Food for thought (Bootloader) - Atrix 4G Android Development

I understand that there is a locked bootloader issue. I'm not much on software and programming but i do understand that some devices share locks with the battery.
The Sony PSP had a bootlock through the battery. The only way to unlock it so you could hack it would be by opening the battery and forcing the battery to put the device into service mode so it can unlock the PSP bootloader.
Using the same idea, there may be possibility that the bootloader can be locked by means of hardware. You're still seeing this in some modern devices that people hack.
Just an idea for developers if they would like to try it..i know this would mean sacrificing a battery ($40 or so). But Motorola was known to do weird **** when they were working with apple.

This... should be in general section...

well this post is for development reasons.

I think you're wrong, only because t0bld (sorry if I spelled the name wrong) has been hard at work, and relatively close to finding something.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

EDIT (i can't edit my reply through the xda app afaik)
People on this forum have used the battery from the original droid x, the bh5x battery, and it works fine, bootloader still locked.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

paravorheim said:
EDIT (i can't edit my reply through the xda app afaik)
People on this forum have used the battery from the original droid x, the bh5x battery, and it works fine, bootloader still locked.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's talking about Modding the battery. Not just using a different one. Like the Pandora battery or whatever.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

I don't think that on Moto devices there's anything like this...
But well, mod the batt, how?

kholk said:
I don't think that on Moto devices there's anything like this...
But well, mod the batt, how?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the battery has a small eeprom which can be overwritten with proper hardware access, in the case of the psp I believe that setting it to a certain sequence (or maybe it was all zeros, i dont remember) made it read the update off the memory stick.
I don't think we're looking at a similar case here, there isnt any sign of a hardware based lock, we've seen lots of software based keys, and I dont think that this would be the ONLY tegra 2 device to have a battery hack possible, as hardware across the board with other devices is similar.
Furthermore, the reason this is irrelevant is that on the PSP we were trying to bypass the update's signature to write our own files, after which there was no more security. That isn't the case here, we can write files, but without proper signing, the device will brick instead of booting unless we can disable the signature check or sign our own files.
And no, I dont have an atrix, nor will I be developing for it (as far as I know)

seargent007 said:
the battery has a small eeprom which can be overwritten with proper hardware access, in the case of the psp I believe that setting it to a certain sequence (or maybe it was all zeros, i dont remember) made it read the update off the memory stick.
I don't think we're looking at a similar case here, there isnt any sign of a hardware based lock, we've seen lots of software based keys, and I dont think that this would be the ONLY tegra 2 device to have a battery hack possible, as hardware across the board with other devices is similar.
Furthermore, the reason this is irrelevant is that on the PSP we were trying to bypass the update's signature to write our own files, after which there was no more security. That isn't the case here, we can write files, but without proper signing, the device will brick instead of booting unless we can disable the signature check or sign our own files.
And no, I dont have an atrix, nor will I be developing for it (as far as I know)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just thought of bringing an idea out since so far its been failed attempts...these new batteries run sequencings for the specified device, just thought since most attempts have been a fail, maybe Motorola locked the bootloader through methods of hardware and if so the battery would be the first place to look in...just an idea.
My Reasoning:
When booting, the device searches for its drivers...battery syncing with phone then managing the in/out sequencing to turn on microphone, speakers, antenna, etc..very similar to a computer. My point of the battery being possible is that when booting if a specific surge in a string of the chip may cause the device to fault in service mode...thats what the pandora battery did to the psp..it forced a certain amount of voltage to the cpu to cause service mode...people do a similar method with a regular tower to force the CPU to activate the SSE3 string for installation of Mac OS X....using the same principle it may be possible.
I'm going to give this idea a try, i'm going to order a BH5X battery to save some money, the BH5X and 6X architecturally built the same...i'll post back what happens with this method.

Don't waste your time unless your that interested. You will have to read out the data on the battery and all it is a current voltage and temperture data reading at that point in time you read it. Oh it uses i2c btw. Let us know what other data lurks on the chip.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Pandora Battery
Here's a link on how to make a Pandora Battery for those interested.
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/620243

I'm a bit skeptical on this to work, the chip should only work as a way to read amperage, voltage and temperature data.
As I know it is done by software calculations because into the battery there isn't any hardware temperature sensor.
Anyway, if anyone can disassemble the battery and make a good photo on the connector circuitry I can search the chip reference and see what kind of integrated it is, an eeprom that has data on it or a simple sensor so that we'll be able to say if this is theoretically possible or not.
And note that if there's an eeprom it wouldn't imply that modifying its data will let us go into a special flashing mode: all the bootloader functions and ALL the software mode are accessible on the device simply pressing a sequence of buttons. The only thing you can hope is that if it is containing data you can crash something while booting, skipping the signature check functions, but this is nearly impossible: the PSP bootloader has got a function that detects a Pandora battery. If it detects it then skips the signature checking process. If not, that won't be skipped.
All this, while Moto's RSD BL probably hasn't got any function to do this.
My only experience in signature skipping is on HTC bootloaders: if it's detecting a goldcard (SDCARD with a calculated code) or an HTC MEGASIM (containing some data) it'll skip the sig check and behave as SUPERCID. But Moto is a whole new story compared to HTC's easily crackable bootloaders.
But hey, as we know, anything could work. The "battery method" hasn't been tested and I think noone looked at it... even in Sholes family.
We'll see.

Pretty sure that Motorola wouldn't let us have it so easy, but there are battery monitor chips that have a little bit of nonvolatile memory that would make sense to be in this battery pack, like this one.

I don't care of what hypotetically CAN be in the battery.
I care of what there actually IS.
...and you too should care only of what actually is in there...
So, waiting for a photo

Amazing in the developers meeting they just skirted around the bootloader unlock question and posted to put it on the forum. Unbelievable

paravorheim said:
I think you're wrong, only because t0bld (sorry if I spelled the name wrong) has been hard at work, and relatively close to finding something.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can say with 100% certainty that tearing apart our batteries will only get us a mutilated battery

kholk said:
I don't care of what hypotetically CAN be in the battery.
I care of what there actually IS.
...and you too should care only of what actually is in there...
So, waiting for a photo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Send me a battery and I'll tear it down for you. I'll even hook it up to my Bus Pirate to probe the controller. I don't have an Atrix anymore, just following the battle at this point.

Mafisometal said:
My Reasoning:
When booting, the device searches for its drivers...battery syncing with phone then managing the in/out sequencing to turn on microphone, speakers, antenna, etc..very similar to a computer. My point of the battery being possible is that when booting if a specific surge in a string of the chip may cause the device to fault in service mode...thats what the pandora battery did to the psp..it forced a certain amount of voltage to the cpu to cause service mode...people do a similar method with a regular tower to force the CPU to activate the SSE3 string for installation of Mac OS X....using the same principle it may be possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again....pandora battery was not a volt mod or anything else, the battery had an eeprom that was read and checked, and I'm relatively sure that we know that there is no such string on the atrix batteries.
P.S.-I'm referring to softmodding the memory on the batteries, the hardmod seems unnecessarily time consuming (and leaves you with a battery that cant operate as a normal one anymore) unless you were in a jam.

Related

G1 Bricked.

no doubt this isnt the first thread on a bricked G1. anyway, my brothers had this G1 for a year now, and its been bricked all this time (goes to bootscreen and thats it, cant get into recovery, cant into the screen with androids on skateboards (quick boot?), just stays stuck on bootscreen.
now he has said he will pay me if i fix it. i have no idea what he was doing when he bricked it, suffice it to say he did something stupid.
for the sake that i might have $50 by the end of tonight and be able to lord it over him when it comes to any phone related faults. how do i fix it?,
(i dont know how to jtag, it looks too complicated and rather expensive)
shamsul007 said:
i dont know how to jtag, it looks too complicated and rather expensive
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Click to collapse
It's actually very cheap if you build the gear yourself but it might be too complicated if you don't have experience in such things. Anyway, it's the only way to fix a brick so try it or don't, but you've got no other options.
meh very well, how would i go about jtagging it? i saw this video on youtube where they connect this thing to motherboard and connect it to computer and do some next level geeky ting.
The information you seek is here:
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php/JTAG_DREAM_AND_MAGIC
It requires some quite intricate soldering.. I wish you luck.
*skims through wiki page*
...**** it.
shamsul007 said:
*skims through wiki page*
...**** it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ditto & ditto.
Each processor or epprom on a circuit board has a programming interface for programming at a hardware level. Usually you will have to track down the datasheet for that chip and find what's used. ISP, JTAG, etc... Then you need a programmer. As was said you can build one, or probably buy one on ebay thats compatible with your chip. Once thats done theres usually either a port for jtag to hook up to it, or you will need to track down each pin to program it. JTAG us usually 20 pins but I'm not sure of the chip your using. Once thats done you hook up the jtag programmer to the jtag pins on the chip. Then use a IDE (integrated Development Environment) or flashing software to flash a new rom/hex/file to the chip to restore it to normal. This is the highest level of geekyness and how they basically hack playstations on xbox's. If your into this sort of thing I highly suggest you hang around. www.allaboutcircuits.com I'm sure some of my info is wrong but thats the basic jist of it without fact checking.
Post the video of what your trying to do and I may be able to do it for you. I have some JTAG programmers already but I'm not sure if their compatible. If your running an ARM chip it probably is. If not, probably not.

[Q] Could it be? A full Milestone Root??

http://software2tech.com/tag/how-to-root-motorola-milestone-xt701/
It's called Easy Root. It supposedly uses some new BlueTooth Exploit.
Apparently this is a full milestone root that allows overclocking tethering and stuff, I will get back when I try it and confirm it works.
In the mean time, has anyone tried it?
I think it will work. I used universal androot and everything worked fine with it.
I use it, it works fine.
i dont see whats so hard about swapping .sbf files and dropping an update...
are people really too lazy to get things done anymore?
..everyone seems to just want an "easy button"
Personally I don't think things should be too easy...sometimes people do things without fully understanding what they're doing, then show up for warranty service/tech support and are kicked out of the room
Ph0z3 said:
i dont see whats so hard about swapping .sbf files and dropping an update...
are people really too lazy to get things done anymore?
..everyone seems to just want an "easy button"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has nothing to do with the simplicity, and everyone to do with Donny's OS. He's exclusively a Mac user, which means there's suddenly a lot of things that are so hard about swapping .sbf files, seeing as Motorola decides that the third largest computer producer in North America doesn't need RSD Lite. He's looking for a one-click root on recommendation from another thread in this forum.
You should consider all possibilities before judging someone for their methods.
GlitchZero said:
This has nothing to do with the simplicity, and everyone to do with Donny's OS. He's exclusively a Mac user, which means there's suddenly a lot of things that are so hard about swapping .sbf files, seeing as Motorola decides that the third largest computer producer in North America doesn't need RSD Lite. He's looking for a one-click root on recommendation from another thread in this forum.
You should consider all possibilities before judging someone for their methods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot man, it's true thoughh! I am actually pretty tech savy, I used to have an iPhone and decided to switch to android because I got bored. I just didn't realize there was little Mac compatibility. I am still just trying to figure this whole thing out
Is this supposed to be a full root? as in the milestone kernel?
Regards, PK
I have no idea what you mean by "as in the milestone kernel" as I'm sure you know, we cannot touch the Kernel.
As by full root, I believe this is "Level 1" root (?) - though I maybe corrected on this.
Sounds like you know exactly what I am talking about. Yes I was talking about what you refer to as "level 1" root. Long-shot & wishful thinking but a fair question don't you think? "Root" on every other phone I have means just that.
Overwhelming yes, but "never"? Know how many times the frigging pentagon gets compromised everyday? This is a frigging cell phone, nasty encryption yes but there's more than one way to skin a cat...who knows.
Anyway the points moot, if the chattering class is on target the milestone "kernal" is already out there being fiddled with...supposedly on it's way.
PK
It works - easy peasy.
donnydotter said:
It's called Easy Root. It supposedly uses some new BlueTooth Exploit.
Apparently this is a full milestone root that allows overclocking tethering and stuff, I will get back when I try it and confirm it works.
In the mean time, has anyone tried it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works - easy peasy.
pk2 said:
This is a frigging cell phone, nasty encryption yes but there's more than one way to skin a cat...who knows.
PK
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true , sadly there was no big interest from dev/ hackers to succeed at doing this , now this phone is already considered an old phone ( 11 months old) so chances are 'cat' will be out of the bag and nobody will care anymore ..
I like the device enough to consider the XT720 if the fastboot trick would allow us to boot custom kernel ... sadly I will probably be on the hunt for another TRUE DEV phone this time .
DAGr8 said:
I like the device enough to consider the XT720 if the fastboot trick would allow us to boot custom kernel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
..i boot from fully off, to fully loaded in about 9 to 12 seconds... restart only takes about 34 seconds to complete the cycle. Not sure why everyone is flipping-shiz about this fast-boot thing. Just look around and try some roms and edit them up some.
The TelusLite v5 rom boots around 15 seconds by default. You can lower it by adding in mem-hack and overclocking it.

Let's go root cars!

I was looking at the Chevy Volt the other day and it got me thinking - has anyone here got any experience working with automotive firmware?
The problem with the Volt is that it has no true EV mode - no matter what, you will use fuel sooner or later. There's no button you can push to make it stick with EV at all costs. Personally I wouldn't buy one unless I at least had that option. Obviously you have to worry about how to connect to it in the first place, and then there's how well locked down they've made it etc. It would seem possible given that it's been common practice to swap out the chips on cars to gain more performance for some time now.
So the question is, has anyone tried this sort of thing? How different would it be to hacking phones?
vijilKiwi said:
I was looking at the Chevy Volt the other day and it got me thinking - has anyone here got any experience working with automotive firmware?
The problem with the Volt is that it has no true EV mode - no matter what, you will use fuel sooner or later. There's no button you can push to make it stick with EV at all costs. Personally I wouldn't buy one unless I at least had that option. Obviously you have to worry about how to connect to it in the first place, and then there's how well locked down they've made it etc. It would seem possible given that it's been common practice to swap out the chips on cars to gain more performance for some time now.
So the question is, has anyone tried this sort of thing? How different would it be to hacking phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How different from phones ? I say it is LOT different its completly 2 different thing we need some experts to do any kind of modification ..
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda app-developers app
If man can put cheese in a can, he can do anything.
How about you request a new forum for the Volt here and let us know the reply please?
*** New Device Forum Requests ***
There are three questions you need to ask.
A. What OS is it running (if it's not an existing one there's a whole nother level of difficulty in place)?
B. What kind of security does Chevy have in place to prevent modifying the software (I would imagine it's probably locked down pretty tight)?
C. Is there anything to be gained by modifying the software?
063_XOBX said:
There are three questions you need to ask.
A. What OS is it running (if it's not an existing one there's a whole nother level of difficulty in place)?
B. What kind of security does Chevy have in place to prevent modifying the software (I would imagine it's probably locked down pretty tight)?
C. Is there anything to be gained by modifying the software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see why they would even bother locking it down. Most people that own the vehicle probably won't even realize that it's an operating system.
Edit: And I'm guessing it's some form of Android.
veeman said:
I don't see why they would even bother locking it down. Most people that own the vehicle probably won't even realize that it's an operating system.
Edit: And I'm guessing it's some form of Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point, I just would imagine they would use some sort of security to remove an incentive to steal the device (but I'm assuming it could be removed from the dash somehow).
I'VE JUST UNLOCKED MY VOLT. You use the little button with the open lock on the remote. Now its a matter of internal business!
This is my signature.
MissionImprobable said:
If man can put cheese in a can, he can do anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could get a good look at a t-bone steak by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it.
Sent from my coffee pot.

			
				
MissionImprobable said:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly.
Sent from my coffee pot.
Or if you're feeling nostalgic for 2010
Toyota, moving forward...because we can't stop.
I forgot all about that insanity.
MissionImprobable said:
If man can put cheese in a can, he can do anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nonsense
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda app-developers app

wipe data/factory... later on, the os freezes and require reset

I got a note7000 offer at a bargain price; half the price of the original... the idea is that the guy is selling it as fault emmc bug. He told me that wiping the data - factory reset caused the problem.
The phone works from times to times he said, is still partially functional, thus he still asks for the price of SII for it, which he wants to replace with.
My question is:
Is the emmc bug permanent? I want to buy it cause is such a awesome screen\phone and i cant afford one from retails at full price. My plan is to downgrade from ics to gb with safe kernels and hope it wont brick with odin as unsafe as it is already.
Don't buy it. He is selling a bricked device for half the price (I wouldn't pay that for a used but fully functional right now).
And you will always get problems with it in many different situations.
Its risky for me, but also rewarding. If you'd seen this particular phone, is almost brand new. He told me it wasn't used much and that is visible on the over all aspect. And god, i love amoled screens, even if pentile is infamous.
Could you describe what you mean by being bricked? -> the phone boots and installs stuffs, but from time to times has the flaw of getting stuck -> require reset.
Its on the way
ps. I trust that if i had this stuff happen to me, coming from a samsung product, i would be able to get it fixed somehow.
Congrats: you just bought a bricked device. I guess he used the repartition workaround which reduces available capacity.
He didn't do the only real fix: replace motherboard in Samsung Service Center.
If you read here more before buying you would understand my "do not buy". Now you will learn later.
And he didn't lie to you - he told everything about the condition.
If you want to learn now while waiting for it, start to read about bricked devices here, about hg42's repartition thread etc. You might need it
Well, wish me luck. I'm gonna follow the steps from around the topics here.
I just hope i can watch movies, and pictures, and browse the mail... then he can get stuck but just a little.
I got an ace on my sleeves though. I can test it before i buy it... any advices, maybe doesn't even have the bug, how i notice
that ?
I'm gonna try these steps on the clip from rootgalaxynote:
youtube - hDtTNDVcTF4
If it doesn't work, i'm screwed cause i do not have a replace phone atm.
Following those steps will only mean that you won't brick it again... and anyway that is really outdated... When you've had enough of constant freezes then you will probably want to try a slim rom such as Slim Bean 4.2.2
I just purchased a n7000 from a guy on eBay for $350.00. It has the Ultimate rom installed in the screenshots. This means that it should be fine, right? I should receive it this week sometime. I bricked my i9100 back when the brick bug first appeared so I'm kind of worried about this.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Thanks for replies. I dunno what to expect. It is worrying, but probably i'll return it back cause is not worth the money if you put it this way "unusable".
He said to me to add a new sd card,,, i guess here is where he was just too honest. This confirms that there is actually a permanent damage to the hardware, especially the hefty 16 GB of memory.
My friend has the bug and he did the workaround , The phone freezes when you turn on bluetooth or wifi , And also the internal memory is low , but good luck with your's btw "restarting it from time to time" seems suspicious though
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
KayKrate said:
My friend has the bug and he did the workaround , The phone freezes when you turn on bluetooth or wifi , And also the internal memory is low , but good luck with your's btw "restarting it from time to time" seems suspicious though
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently that was a slight misleading. On itself doesn't restart. I got the phone right now. Is so huge even an elephant could use it.
Only freezes when i try write something thru usb cable. The ram is smaller, only 5 gb.
neier24 said:
Apparently that was a slight misleading. On itself doesn't restart. I got the phone right now. Is so huge even an elephant could use it.
Only freezes when i try write something thru usb cable. The ram is smaller, only 5 gb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? Then it might be double-bricked and double "workarounded". Each time lossing about 3 GB...
When I close my eyes I see the grinning of this a--h-le who sold it for real money.
That sucks...
Now I want to see if is only a memory problem of the storage sd, or is as well as for the last 'bastion' of my phone, 2GB rom... cause then i can install slimbean like i've been adviced here.
neier24 said:
That sucks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why? You knew from the first day about the condition and bought it nevertheless.
ThaiDai said:
Why? You knew from the first day about the condition and bought it nevertheless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, i'm in a bit of trouble right now. As you can guess, i can do something about it, cause beyond this is the morality of getting into a mess on someone's fault. Now that has to be decided, as long as is not mine.
This guy told me it is partially usable, add a card, try fix it yourself. At 190$ i expect to be better then a S1 or nexus s which might easly outmatch this phone. If is a matter of pride. Just keep it to yourself.
Either i give this guy a bad review as is a site as amazon, where user feedback is noted, or i return it back myself. Is not the holly grail, is just a phone.
He told me is not permanent damage.
LE: I got some good news and bad new:
I cannot add videos, it simply doesn't write. It doesn't freeze my phone anymore, this time i'm using samsung kies. Good news, i can write photos and songs.
I'm half way there in trusting this guy that with a sd card, the phone will work just okay in installing stuff.
On the other hand, i dunno if the internal storage is damaged; can i install jelly bean? or change the culprit kernel? or should i live with it as it is.
the seller has a no return policy. so ur actually screwed. you think the seller is a noob and that he didnt know about the fix. sometimes being too wise makes u feel and idiot in the end.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
Do you guys want to help, or keep ranting?
qazibasit learn some english.
How i change camera setting to save all its files on external microsd card?
neier24 said:
Do you guys want to help, or keep ranting?
qazibasit learn some english.
How i change camera setting to save all its files on external microsd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And now you are starting to get arrogant?
Even if I do not always follow qazis messages I do understand him very well - because Oxford english isn't a prerequisite here.
Members here can't help you: Why? Because you bought a brick device even when warned about it.
ThaiDai said:
And now you are starting to get arrogant?
Even if I do not always follow qazis messages I do understand him very well - because Oxford english isn't a prerequisite here.
Members here can't help you: Why? Because you bought a brick device even when warned about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How was his random ranting relevant to this topic?
So what do you think... flashing a new kernel and formating the sdcard do any good?
I may have a different term for bricking: When used in reference to consumer electronics, a "brick" describes an electronic device such as a smart phone, game console, router, or tablet computer that owing to a serious misconfiguration, corrupted firmware or a hardware problem, can no longer function. The term derives from the vaguely cuboid shape of many electronic devices (and their detachable power supplies) and the suggestion that the device can only function as a large, heavy object.
As far as i see, this device has stuff installed on it, and i can't figure how he did it.
recommend me a memory error checking app if u know, please!
Flash a safe kernel and flash a new ROM.. Try that and if all works good we´ll continue..

About to go for a nexus 6 but some issues are keeping me from doing it

I've had pretty much every nexus device, but last year I decided to get myself an Iphone 6, but I really missed android, so I'm about to get the nexus 6 but some issues are keeping me from doing it, I've read quite a few reviews and I'm concerned about the following issues:
1. Why is the camera so slow to take pictures? You think it could improve in the future? That's probably the thing I like the most about the iphone 6, how good the pictures come and how the camera is blazing fast
2. Is it true that the device is slower than the nexus 5? Have updates improved this situation? My nexus 5 already stuttered with Lollipop, Ive read quite a few reports about the phone slowing down and lagging for no apparent reason (except for maybe the quadHD killing the cpu/gpu)
3. How true are the reports of screen burn in?
4. How do non google apps and icons look? I imagine pretty bad since facebook or instagram's icons haven't even been updated to take advantage of a 1080p screen
5. Is it true that the device has slow storage a step down from the nexus reading and writing speeds?
Thanks for your help
Chad_Petree said:
I've had pretty much every nexus device, but last year I decided to get myself an Iphone 6, but I really missed android, so I'm about to get the nexus 6 but some issues are keeping me from doing it, I've read quite a few reviews and I'm concerned about the following issues:
1. Why is the camera so slow to take pictures? You think it could improve in the future? That's probably the thing I like the most about the iphone 6, how good the pictures come and how the camera is blazing fast
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The actual act of taking a picture is fast, its just focusing that is slow. If you focus manually or fixed, it will take pictures amazingly fast.
2. Is it true that the device is slower than the nexus 5? Have updates improved this situation? My nexus 5 already stuttered with Lollipop, Ive read quite a few reports about the phone slowing down and lagging for no apparent reason (except for maybe the quadHD killing the cpu/gpu)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not at all true.
3. How true are the reports of screen burn in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Completely imaginary.
4. How do non google apps and icons look? I imagine pretty bad since facebook or instagram's icons haven't even been updated to take advantage of a 1080p screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where are you coming up with these questions? The only icon I've seen that actually looks bad, is the one for my bank... and it looks bad on ANY screen. Screen resolution is not so tightly tied to "icons" -- bigger screen = more icons. Also, Nexus 5 was already a 1080p display. I also hardly consider this question to be meaningful. Who really cares what icons look like? The objective is to maximize USEFULNESS.
5. Is it true that the device has slow storage a step down from the nexus reading and writing speeds?
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No. Flash storage is blazingly fast on this device, HOWEVER, the "default configuration" enables data partition encryption by force, which reduces the EFFECTIVE flash performance to nexus 5 level (which is still very good). Simple adjustment to a text file on the boot partition allows this to be disabled. It is also probable/possible that Google will be enabling hardware crypto on the next update.
doitright said:
The actual act of taking a picture is fast, its just focusing that is slow. If you focus manually or fixed, it will take pictures amazingly fast.
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I see, we will see if it changes with the 5.1" update, I remember the first big update for the nexus 5 did wonders for the camera
doitright said:
Completely imaginary.
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Click to collapse
http://nexus5.wonderhowto.com/how-to/fix-screen-burns-your-nexus-6-other-amoled-device-0159397/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/burn-t2955765
doitright said:
Where are you coming up with these questions? The only icon I've seen that actually looks bad, is the one for my bank... and it looks bad on ANY screen. Screen resolution is not so tightly tied to "icons" -- bigger screen = more icons. Also, Nexus 5 was already a 1080p display. I also hardly consider this question to be meaningful. Who really cares what icons look like? The objective is to maximize USEFULNESS.
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Click to collapse
I'm sorry, I know it sounds ridiculous but I'm studying to become a designer and that kind of things really bother me , as far as I know if you don't update the resolution for the icons and increase the resolution of the display you end up with fuzzy icons
doitright said:
No. Flash storage is blazingly fast on this device, HOWEVER, the "default configuration" enables data partition encryption by force, which reduces the EFFECTIVE flash performance to nexus 5 level (which is still very good). Simple adjustment to a text file on the boot partition allows this to be disabled. It is also probable/possible that Google will be enabling hardware crypto on the next update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in agreement with @doitright. I can say nothing but good about this device. I do not have any of those issues nor know of any that do. As with any device though there are always some bad ones that an unlucky few receive. It does not make all of them bad just those. My phone is a beast. It outperforms the N5 by miles. Screen looks amazing. Icons to me look great I haven't come across a bad looking icon except that of my bank.... I guess banks hire poor developers idk. Storage is incredibly fast. Camera is fantastic. Fastest signal acquisition I've seen on any phone including GPS.
Eh. Entirely up to you what you want to do. I don't trust any reviews. I rather go with my own opinions/feelings on anything. You should too.
Chad_Petree said:
I'm sorry, I know it sounds ridiculous but I'm studying to become a designer and that kind of things really bother me , as far as I know if you don't update the resolution for the icons and increase the resolution of the display you end up with fuzzy icons
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Click to collapse
App icons are controlled by the dev. I've never seen a fuzzy one.
doitright said:
No. Flash storage is blazingly fast on this device, HOWEVER, the "default configuration" enables data partition encryption by force, which reduces the EFFECTIVE flash performance to nexus 5 level (which is still very good). Simple adjustment to a text file on the boot partition allows this to be disabled. It is also probable/possible that Google will be enabling hardware crypto on the next update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm awaiting this Thursday to grab one on VZ, coming from a Galaxy Nexus, anything I could get now would be a major update hardware wise, however the only exception I take is the last part of this, not trying so start anything, your other parts are spot on.
The current speculation is that 5.1 may go backwards on forcing software encryption, but nothing is confirmed there, see last paragraph:
http://www.slashgear.com/android-5-1-in-march-heres-what-may-be-coming-18369666/
If the Nexus 6 had the HW encryption on it, and I cant confirm it does, we're left with these options:
1 - they do enable it, which begs why it wasn't in the first place. Current rumor is that the qualcomm drivers for that engine are not open source, therefore it is a no no on android:
http://androidheadlines.com/2014/11...ency-likely-due-missing-qualcomm-drivers.html
2 - they tweak the software encryption, which if you check the threads, opinions really vary here. if you need to irk the absolute most out if it for read write, then undo it. But plenty of others have chimed in saying it wasn't that big an increase, i believe it to be what you may be using on the device that makes the difference, more intensive apps may cause the SW process to bog down, but in all, it is still fast.
3 - they disable it by default, which I wonder how that would be accomplished in an OTA, it would need to wipe the device I'm sure, but ...
4 - Lastly, if in fact they cant use the engine, or it wasn't included (doubtful, it has qualcomm in it) then you cant enable it by an OTA, end of that story.
Personally, if I grab the N6 this week, I plan on unlocking/rooting/removing VZ oem partition, but for the moment leaving encryption on, because 5.1 may drop in March, and then see how things are at that juncture.
It would be great if they could enable HW encryption, because we get that security and maintain read write offloaded from the CPU.
Lastly, I plan on trying to enjoy the thing, playing with it for at least an hour in store before taking it (you never know) because as most of us here are OC hehe, reading all the threads of issues before buying it is kinda a downer. I know I'm going to love it, having waited three years to update myself.
RW-1 said:
The current speculation is that 5.1 may go backwards on forcing software encryption, but nothing is confirmed there, see last paragraph:
http://www.slashgear.com/android-5-1-in-march-heres-what-may-be-coming-18369666/
If the Nexus 6 had the HW encryption on it, and I cant confirm it does, we're left with these options:
1 - they do enable it, which begs why it wasn't in the first place. Current rumor is that the qualcomm drivers for that engine are not open source, therefore it is a no no on android:
http://androidheadlines.com/2014/11...ency-likely-due-missing-qualcomm-drivers.html.
3 - they disable it by default, which I wonder how that would be accomplished in an OTA, it would need to wipe the device I'm sure, but ...
4 - Lastly, if in fact they cant use the engine, or it wasn't included (doubtful, it has qualcomm in it) then you cant enable it by an OTA, end of that story.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was thinking about, would it be possible for them to get rid of the encryption with an OTA , I would think that one needs to factory reset your device
Chad_Petree said:
I see, we will see if it changes with the 5.1" update, I remember the first big update for the nexus 5 did wonders for the camera
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Click to collapse
Focus is a PHYSICAL MOVEMENT of the lens. No update will change the amount of time it takes to move the lens.
http://nexus5.wonderhowto.com/how-to/fix-screen-burns-your-nexus-6-other-amoled-device-0159397/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/burn-t2955765
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Click to collapse
I congratulate you on finding a thread about an imaginary problem, and a "fix" for an imaginary problem.
There is a certain subset of people who will do anything, IMAGINE anything, to find a problem. Don't ask me why they are like that. Sucks to be them.
I'm sorry, I know it sounds ridiculous but I'm studying to become a designer and that kind of things really bother me , as far as I know if you don't update the resolution for the icons and increase the resolution of the display you end up with fuzzy icons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't do anything to increase the fuzzyness of an image, unless you actually stretch it larger. I.e., if it takes the same physical space on the screen, then increasing the DPI on the screen won't cause it to become more fuzzy -- it just won't increase in SHARPNESS with the display. Google has specifications regarding the dimensions of the icons, and these specifications have always included a "much larger" image than what will actually display on the screen. The icons actually get scaled down to fit. So really, don't worry about it. If you find an application with a ugly/fuzzy icon, complain to the application vendor, because they're the ones who made an ugly icon, not the platform.
I just can't stress enough, that this is a silly point to use to avoid a device.
---------- Post added at 06:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:49 PM ----------
RW-1 said:
I'm awaiting this Thursday to grab one on VZ, coming from a Galaxy Nexus, anything I could get now would be a major update hardware wise, however the only exception I take is the last part of this, not trying so start anything, your other parts are spot on.
The current speculation is that 5.1 may go backwards on forcing software encryption, but nothing is confirmed there, see last paragraph:
http://www.slashgear.com/android-5-1-in-march-heres-what-may-be-coming-18369666/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I *absolutely promise you* that they WILL NOT eliminate the encryption requirement. Those "android one" devices are... really really cheap. It is likely that they don't force encryption simply because they are not up to the task.
If the Nexus 6 had the HW encryption on it, and I cant confirm it does, we're left with these options:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I CAN confirm that it does. There is no question at all. It is part of all snapdragon SoC's since about S4.
1 - they do enable it, which begs why it wasn't in the first place. Current rumor is that the qualcomm drivers for that engine are not open source, therefore it is a no no on android:
http://androidheadlines.com/2014/11...ency-likely-due-missing-qualcomm-drivers.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are two sides to the use of encryption hardware with qualcomm SoC's; the first is the "blobs", and the second is the integration with Android and the Linux kernel. Specifically, qualcomm's hardware crypto requires changes both to the kernel (which is under GPL), as well as VOLD (which is under APL).
Obviously, to include the kernel part, that kernel part MUST be provided as source. There is absolutely no option here.
VOLD is the part of Android responsible for mounting and managing disks. It is under the Apache license, which means that technically speaking, it can be distributed without including source, HOWEVER, this is a Nexus from Google, which means that they really can't ship a blob in place of VOLD. It has to be possible to build VOLD from AOSP.
So here is what was going on; at the time that Nexus 6 first shipped, Qualcomm HAD NOT made the source for Kernel or Vold available on CAF. That made it *impossible* for Google to include, since they would have to provide kernel code on request, and require that AOSP VOLD actually build and work.
QUALCOMM HAS SINCE MADE THE SOURCE AVAILABLE!!!!
And, in fact, there are a number of devices for which CM actually builds and includes hwcrypto *right now*.
2 - they tweak the software encryption, which if you check the threads, opinions really vary here. if you need to irk the absolute most out if it for read write, then undo it. But plenty of others have chimed in saying it wasn't that big an increase, i believe it to be what you may be using on the device that makes the difference, more intensive apps may cause the SW process to bog down, but in all, it is still fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't even a half solution, because even though it may seem to improve storage performance to an acceptable level, it has to nail the CPU while doing so.
3 - they disable it by default, which I wonder how that would be accomplished in an OTA, it would need to wipe the device I'm sure, but ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically possible, but I *promise* you, it won't happen.
4 - Lastly, if in fact they cant use the engine, or it wasn't included (doubtful, it has qualcomm in it) then you cant enable it by an OTA, end of that story.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most definitely CAN be used. No question about it.
Personally, if I grab the N6 this week, I plan on unlocking/rooting/removing VZ oem partition, but for the moment leaving encryption on, because 5.1 may drop in March, and then see how things are at that juncture.
It would be great if they could enable HW encryption, because we get that security and maintain read write offloaded from the CPU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could disable crypto now, and let it encrypt when the update rolls around. Disabling forced-crypto does not prevent you from using crypto now or later.
Lastly, I plan on trying to enjoy the thing, playing with it for at least an hour in store before taking it (you never know) because as most of us here are OC hehe, reading all the threads of issues before buying it is kinda a downer. I know I'm going to love it, having waited three years to update myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep in mind that the test unit in the store gets abused.
DIR,
Looked forward to your responses on my last post, and was not dissapointed, nice info there, especially "QUALCOMM HAS SINCE MADE THE SOURCE AVAILABLE!!!!"
so has anyone done a comparison between the hwcrypto'd CM versions and unencrypted yet?
Yeah, I know the store ones get abused, in the end it would be a N6 or a GS6 for me, and I just cannot go to touchwiz, no matter how toned down, I want pure android, and unlocking ability, etc. Kinda makes the choice or me hehehe.
Dammit VZ, if you just announce online ordering tomorrow ... grrr .....
doitright said:
Focus is a PHYSICAL MOVEMENT of the lens. No update will change the amount of time it takes to move the lens.
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Click to collapse
Oh oh well, nothing is perfect
doitright said:
You could disable crypto now, and let it encrypt when the update rolls around. Disabling forced-crypto does not prevent you from using crypto now or later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What would be the point of deactivating to reactivate later?
Chad_Petree said:
Oh oh well, nothing is perfect
What would be the point of deactivating to reactivate later?
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Click to collapse
I would guess deactivate to gain read/write speed increase now, if the update enables HW encryption then you would let it.
Oh, and that is the point - nothing is perfect, not the N6, nor the units that will come after it hehehe....
RW-1 said:
DIR,
Looked forward to your responses on my last post, and was not dissapointed, nice info there, especially "QUALCOMM HAS SINCE MADE THE SOURCE AVAILABLE!!!!"
so has anyone done a comparison between the hwcrypto'd CM versions and unencrypted yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I said on *some* devices. I did not say that they were enabling it on Nexus 6.
Yeah, I know the store ones get abused, in the end it would be a N6 or a GS6 for me, and I just cannot go to touchwiz, no matter how toned down, I want pure android, and unlocking ability, etc. Kinda makes the choice or me hehehe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I'm totally with you on that. My last phone was a samsuck.... NEVER again. I spent WAY too many hundreds of hours on kernel and device tree maintenance to get and keep that thing working adequately on CM... then Omnirom (omni is waaaaaay nicer than CM). After a year of ownership of that thing, got the wife a Hammerhead (nexus 5), and its been just so easy to maintain. Literally all I ever did with her phone was add root, busybox, and xposed (to kill a couple of the google services wakelocks). This time around, I wanted the thing to just freaking work already!!!! Only downside is that its a bit *larger* than I would have liked.
Dammit VZ, if you just announce online ordering tomorrow ... grrr .....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think that you should buy from verizon, even if/when they sell it directly. It will likely be crippled and branded, at least to some extent. Buy it from tmobile or google play store, and all you need to do is throw your verizon sim card into it. I think I heard that sprint also does not molest it. Oh, it could also be purchased directly from motorola.
Just whatever you do, do NOT buy it from ATT. They DO molest and cripple it.
---------- Post added at 03:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:33 PM ----------
Chad_Petree said:
What would be the point of deactivating to reactivate later?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To gain RW performance NOW... DUH.
I'll be getting it from VZ, because I just don't have the spare $$$ to buy direct and place it on VZ.
ATT taught us that VZ will have to toss its bloat on the oem partition just like anyone else, so ... as far as branding, I think that may rub off like ATT's, but if not I plan on putting in a case anyway.
Now we have to wait another two weeks if the newest rumor is true ...

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